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Hello!? Troubleshooting Remote Desktop Services disconnects
I’ve written books about Windows Server operating systems way back from the dark ages of Windows NT. I’ve also used these operating systems in a business environment and helped other IT professionals...
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Active Directory tips, tricks, and tweaks
Sometimes it can pay off to dig into that bag of tricks you’ve been accumulating from talking with colleagues in the IT profession. This recently happened to me when I was asked to give some advice...
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Windows Server Backup hits refresh with Azure Backup
When I wrote my book Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 R2 Training Guide three years ago, Windows Server Backup was still the best in-box way of safeguarding your Windows Server systems...
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Empower Microsoft Deployment Toolkit with PowerShell
PowerShell is king when it comes to Windows scripting nowadays. But Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), the free collection of tools, processes, and guidance from Microsoft for automating desktop and...
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Configuring the Windows Time Service
The Windows Time service (W32Time) is designed to maintain date and time synchronization for computers running client and server versions of Microsoft Windows. The primary use for such time...
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HOW TO: Make sure Active Directory domain controllers have an NTDS object
When an Active Directory domain controller is implemented, it creates necessary objects for in the Active Directory. The domain controller installation process creates DNS records in the DNS Server...
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Networking basics: Check if your domain controller host records are registered
When you implement an Active Directory domain controller, the installation process creates several DNS records in the DNS server. The installation process creates service records, sometimes referred to...
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Domain controllers required ports: Use PowerShell to check if they are listening
An Active Directory domain controller needs to listen on specific ports to service different client requests. For example, when a client computer needs to authenticate, it connects to a server which...
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Empower your ServiceNow technicians for Active Directory management
Imagine how efficient your help desk would be if it were empowered to deal with IT issues and manage Active Directory (AD) users from a single console. This is the vision that inspired the product...
View ArticleFirst semiannual System Center update released, available in preview
Microsoft recently announced that the first System Center update release since it switched to its new semiannual release schedule is available in preview and will roll out for everyone in early 2018....
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Whither SMB: Where it’s been, where it is, and where it might be going
It’s been quite a ride, Server Message Block has been. That’s my own feeble attempt at channeling Yoda as he tries to explain what’s been happening with SMB support in Microsoft Windows over the years....
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RSAT: These Windows 10 tools put you in control
Long ago, all Windows servers came with a graphical user interface, or GUI for short. These servers were similar to our desktops, and such a setup made it easy for server administrators to manage...
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Assigning temporary Active Directory group memberships in Windows Server 2016
Back in the day when I had a “real job” in IT, one of the things that often caused me grief was temporary permissions. Every so often, someone would ask me to temporarily make a particular user a...
View ArticleMaster the power of ‘Search-ADAccount’ PowerShell cmdlet
Not many Active Directory administrators know that the Search-ADAccount PowerShell cmdlet can perform a number of handy Active Directory operations such as collecting a list of disabled Active...
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Apple, meet orange: The power of cross-platform PowerShell
Apples and oranges may both be fruit, but they’re very different in how they taste. Have you ever heard of duck pomme? Or pork roast with orange sauce? And don’t even get me started about mixing apples...
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Alternatives for building and deploying Windows images
I’ve written many articles about Windows deployment, and the main tool I’ve used for building and deploying Windows images to PCs and servers is the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), a free set of...
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PowerShell errors: Dealing with ‘term is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet’
As someone who has written numerous articles about Microsoft PowerShell for TechGenix, I often have people tell me that they find PowerShell to be intimidating because when things go wrong the error...
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Need to reset users’ Active Directory passwords? Here are several ways to do it
There are many reasons why admins must reset Active Directory passwords for user accounts, and there are several ways to do this. You can use Active Directory Users and Computers MMC, DSMOD command...
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The importance of being earnest with software licensing
Making sure all the software your organization uses is properly licensed can be a pain but it's clearly important — unless you like dealing with legal authorities. Lots of businesses get themselves...
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Up close and personal with Windows AutoPilot
Lots of exciting new technologies and solutions are coming out of Redmond these days. One of these new technologies is Windows AutoPilot and it may revolutionize how devices are set up and deployed. To...
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